Attachment to improve parallel skiing



p 1964 J. G. F. HEUVEL 3,148,891 ATTACHMENT TO IMPROVE PARALLEL SKIING Filfsed Aug. 20, 1963 INVENTOR ATTORNEY JOHAN G. F. HEUVEL v United States Patent 3,143,891 ATTACHMENT T0 IB/H ROVE PARALLEL SKEING Johan G. F. Heuvel, 2935 Fort St, Montreal 25, Quebec, (Ianada Filed Aug. 20, I963, Ser. No. 303,316 8 Claims. (El. 28tl11.3'i)

This invention relates generally to skis and more particularly to an attachment which enables the more proficient skier to ski parallel.

According to present ski instructors, the ultimate goal of the skier is to ski parallel. This generally involves edging the uphill edge of the downhill ski upon which a substantial portion of the skiers weight rests and having the uphill ski edged with the tip leading the downhill ski. The shins or ankles of the skier are kept substantially pressed together, and although the tips of the skis may cross, if the skier is under control they can be readily uncrossed.

When skiing in deep powder snow, generally only the tips of the skis are exposed and when skiing parallel in deep powder if the trailing ends or tails of the skis are crossed a dangerous condition exists.

One reason why parallel skiing is most desirable is that with the skis immediately adjacent each other, both skis traverse substantially the same terrain and thus are subject to similar changes in contour, whereas if the skis are in a snow plow position or far apart they subject the feet of the skier to different portions of the terrain and thus the skier is not always under control.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel ski attachment to facilitate parallel skiing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for skis which particularly prevents the trailing or tail ends of skis from becoming crossed.

Another and more particular object of the invention is to provide a novel attachment in combination with skis in which the attachment will facilitate parallel skiing by the more proficient skier but which will not permit the unskilled skier to attain excessively dangerous speeds.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descrip ion when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which similar reference numerals are used to identify similar parts, and in which:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pair of skis with the intermediate portions of the skis broken away, and showing the attachment of the invention mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of that portion of one of the skis upon which the attachment is mounted.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view looking from right to left at FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view showing in solid lines substantially the manner in which the novel attachment functions when the trailing ends of the skis are crossed, and further, showing in phantom lines the position to which the uphill ski will be positioned during parallel skiing; and

FIGURES 6-8 are fragmentary perspective views of modifications of the novel attachment.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first considering FIGURE 1, a pair of skis is shown, each of which being indicated generally at It) and 12. The skis are of any suitable character, i.e., wood, metal, etc.

Only one of the skis will be described in detail, the ski 10, for example. The ski 10 includes a runner 14 having an upturned front tip 16. Mounted intermedi- 3,148,891 Patented Sept. 15., 1964 ice ately of the runner 14 is the boot binding indicated generally at 18. Mounted rearwardly of the binding 18 adjacent the trailing end 20 of the runner 14 is the anticrossing and tail-orienting attachment indicated generally at 22.

The attachment 22 is constructed from any suitable material, i.e., metal, plastic, etc., and comprises a pair of triangularly disposed strap elements 24 and 26 each including outwardly extending lower mounting plate portions 28. The mounting plate portions 28 are transversely apertured and are secured to the upper surface of the ski by means of suitable fasteners 30. It will be noted that the lower ends of the strap elements are disposed inwardly of the side edges of the runner 14 to permit the adjacent edges of the skis to be positioned immediately adjacent each other as shown by the solid and phantom lines in FIGURE 5.

The attachment 22 when mounted on the skis is open, i.e., opening along the direction of movement of the skis, and thus snow will generally pass therethrough during skiing.

Operation Considering FIGURE 5, ski 12 will be considered the downhill ski and during parallel skiing the uphill edge 32 thereof will be edged, i.e., as the skiers knees are bent, the ski is canted transversely so that substantially all of the skiers weight is on this edge. 7

When skiing properly, i.e., parallel, the edge 34 of the ski 10 higher up the hill or fall line will be disposed as closely as possible to edge 32. During this attitude, the skiers boots are pressed very close together at the ankles.

In the event the edge 34 of the uphill ski 10 moves about and over the strap portion 26' of the attachment 22 on ski 12, the angularly disposed strap 26' will urge the edge 34- back toward the parallel position shown by the phantom lines.

It will be noted that the strap elements 24 and 26 terminate immediately adjacent the edge of the runner members to thus immediately become effective and functional when tail crossing occurs.

Without limiting the invention, it is visualized that the strap elements could extend to the height of about two inches and be about of an inch wide. One reason for not having these attachments or brackets too high is that they might not permit the skis to cross at all, and then the beginner skier might attain too great a speed which would be dangerous to both himself and other skiers on the slopes.

Since crossing of the ski tips is not a particular problem in parallel skiing since the uphill ski generally leads the downhill ski and the weight of the skier is on the downhill ski, any toe crossing that may occur can be readily corrected by a skier under control.

lthough crossed tips may occur among beginner skiers, the problem of crossed ski tail is of much greater significance among the more advanced skiers. The abovedescribed attachment will successfully and in a simple manner permit the advanced skier to attain the degree of proficiency for which he is striving.

By maintaining the attachment of this invention relatively low, the beginner who has not mastered the techniques of turning and stopping will not especially be aided by this invention; however, this is as it should be, since it is desirable that normal ski techniques be acquired before the skier attempts to ski parallel.

Considering FIGURE 6, a runner 14 has mounted thereon a slightly modified attachment I22 which includes strap elements 124 and 126 which are not symmetrically disposed as compared with attachment 22. The attachment 122 is mounted in a manner similar to that previously described.

Noting the angular variance of strap elements 124 and 126, it will be immediately apparent that since skis are neither right nor left, i.e., as in shoes or boots, by having strap 124 on the inside, i.e., adjacent the other ski, the tendency to maintain the skis parallel will be slightly less than when the greater angled strap element 126 is engaged by the adjacent ski. This, of course, is due to the diiferent angular relationships of the respective strap elements. Thus, the more expert skier would not need too much help to ski parallel and thus would have the shallower angled strap portion 124 on the inside, i.e., adjacent the other ski.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the runner member 14 has mounted thereon an attachment 222 which includes on the strap portions 224 and 226 a plurality of vertically spaced and downwardly angled lips or plate portions 223. The plate portions 228 will generally permit an adjacent ski that has crossed at the tail to slide downwardly to the parallel position but will tend to prevent the ski from sliding up or over the strap portion upon which the plate elements are formed.

Referring to FIGURE 8, an attachment similar to that of FIGURES 1-5 is disclosed, the runner member 14 having mounted thereon a bracket or attachment 322. The attachment 322 includes transversely of the strap portions 324 and 326 at the apex thereof an abutment plate 328 which will engage the overriding tail of an adjacent ski to prevent radical tail crossing of the skis.

Inasmuch as the attachments 22, 122, 222 and 322 will, when engaged by a crossing tail of an adjacent ski, emit a distinctive sound during such occurrence, thus in addition to the functions of the attachments mentioned above, the attachments also comprise a signal means for warning the skier of the crossed tails, particularly in deep powder. Further, in this regard, it is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention to incorporate additional signal means either mechanical or otherwise to supplement the distinctive sound emitted when the attachments are engaged by a crossing ski.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore, the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings or described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pair of skis, bracket elements on each of the skis adjacent the tail ends thereof, said bracket element being generally triangular and including angular strap portions terminating adjacent the side edges of said skis, said strap portions being disposed at different angles with respect to the upper surface of the skis.

2. In combination with a pair of skis, bracket elements on each of the skis adjacent the tail ends thereof, said bracket element being generally triangular and including angular strap portions terminating adjacent the side edges of said skis, said strap portions including a plurality of downwardly angled, spaced plate elements on the outer surface thereof.

3. In combination with a pair of skis, bracket elements on each of the skis adjacent the tail ends thereof, said bracket element being generally triangular and including angular strap portions terminating adjacent the side edges of said skis, said bracket including an upper abutment element integral with the upper ends of said strap portions and extending transversely thereof.

4. A parallel skiing aid comprising a ski runner, a bracket attachment secured in vertically extending relation adjacent the trailing end of said runner, said attachment comprising a substantially open triangle including strap portions secured adjacent the outer edges of the runner member.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said strap portions form an isosceles triangle with the upper surface of said runner member.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which said bracket attachment includes a transverse abutment element integral with the upper ends of said strap portions.

7. The structure of claim 4 in which said strap pon'tions include a plurality of vertically spaced, downwardly angled plate portions on the outer surface thereof.

8. The structure of claim 4 in which said strap portions are at different angles with respect to the upper surface of said runner member.

References. Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,455,920 Ebbley Dec. 14, 1948 2,625,405 Stall Jan. 13, 1953 3,087,173 Meyer Apr. 30, 1963 

4. A PARALLEL SKIING AID COMPRISING A SKI RUNNER, A BRACKET ATTACHMENT SECURED IN VERTICALLY EXTENDING RELATION ADJACENT THE TRAILING END OF SAID RUNNER, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY OPEN TRIANGLE INCLUDING STRAP PORTIONS SECURED ADJACENT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE RUNNER MEMBER. 